2009 .... In Review

What a year it was.

Actually, it was quite the crappy year. Well, until the last quarter. Then it got a little better. But only in a couple of aspects.

I thinking here that you can tell that I'm really happy to see it go.

It wasn't an easy year by any stretch of the imagination. Filled with waaay too many challenges, too much bullshit, disappointments and not enough fun.... yeah, I'm thrilled to watch it walk out the door.... don't let the door hit you in the ass on your way out....

THAT!!! being said, I can say that 2010, while not so fun to type on the keyboard or number pad (kinda awkward) is looking to be just as challenging.

But challenging in the best sense of the word.

Really. I mean that.

And while I'm sure that there will still be some crap to be dealt with, I also know that, for the most part, it will be good. Great even!!

As far as the blog is concerned, I do hope, now that things are somewhat, sort of, kinda, maybe a little better and a tad more certain, that I can once again get back to posting a little more normally. I know that many of you keep checking in and there hasn't been much. But you keep coming back. And for that, I shall reward you!! At least that's what I'm hoping will happen.... rewards!!! all the way around. Don't be mis-interpreting that as in financial gain or special favours... that ain't going to happen!! I'm thinking more reading, more laughing, more posting here people... sheesh.

Happy New Year to each and every one of you! May your 2010 be filled with love, health and happiness. May the challenges you face be minor and may the year bring you nothing but joy!



Not that there will be any of that going on!!!!

Happy New Year everyone!!

Ciao!

Season's Greetings

And Merry Christmas!

Okay, it's started

I finally got it going on...

Being on a few days of vacation, with the intention of relaxing and doing absolutely nothing, I've managed to accomplish something!

Did a little baking. Made a few lists. Bought a couple of things.

Oh yeah, Christmas is coming and I'm gonna pull it off...

During my baking and/or cooking adventure today I grabbed the camera so I could chronicle, in a visual sort of way, just what happens when Jodie finally gets the lead out and starts prepping for the holiday season.

First up, making the dough for the perishke. I've made them before. Well, not my dough recipe, my friend Carol's dough recipe. Actually, she made the dough and I just helped stuff them. And SG has made them before but he lost his dough recipe. Well, not lost really, just can't remember which cookbook he got it out of. Which is too bad, because they were almost as good as my friend Carol's. But I got the recipe of the oh-so-close-to-perfect from my sister in law and whipped me up some dough. And then I cooked me up some middle stuff. And then I baked them.

Turned out absolutely lovely in the bowl.... it really did! Silky smooth, elastic-y like it should be...

I thought that I would try filling them with a little something different than the usual sauerkraut or ground beef type filling. That there is a curried chicken breast.

Mix it up with a little garlic mashed potatoes.... oh yeah.... we are thinking these are gonna be good, good, GOOD!!

Cut the circles in the dough. I discovered later that its much easier and far more efficient to just pull the dough off, fiddle with it in your hand and then stuff and close the ball.

Place on a well greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees until golden brown.

That is the same garlic mashed potatoes mixed up with some farmer sausage. I loooove farmer sausage in the Perishke!

There's your finished product, brushed with some melted butter to make them soft and sweet.

And there's your insides.... note the festive type plate... oh yeah, I know how to holiday it up!

In all honesty, they turned out pretty good. Not quite as good as the sister in laws as far as the dough is concerned but still good.

Good enough that I ate a dozen and still want more....

Up next? The baking.......

Ciao!

December...in all its wonderfullness

You know, I really can't wait for this month to be over.

It has been hell on wheels and we're not even at the half way point yet!

Not that it has anything to do with Christmas.... I mean, just because I really haven't come close to preparing to even think about the big event later this month... You know, the decorating, baking, shopping, wrapping, cooking, eating, drinking.... haven't really given it a thought.

Well, except when I think about how I really do need start thinking about it.

But then it gets a little over-whelming and I stop thinking about thinking about it.

I've left SG in charge of the shopping this year. He has been dispatched to purchase gifts for #1 and #2. "Here you go honey, have at it. I'll do the stockings..." He too must be feeling the same as I because he's only been out to the mall once. Which, to give the guy credit, is more than I've been.... Wait, I did go to the dollar store, you know, just to scope it out and see what my loonies will get me. That counts, right?

Anyway, back on track here.

What the hell were we thinking when we decided to have three female dogs live inside the house with us and the boy dog? Someone please tell me that!!!

We've spent part of the first part of the month playing the love dance as our newest little girl Synder has grown to the point where she is now thinking that maybe she might just want to have puppies. And first off, she's too young, but most importantly, we've not yet found the perfect male to add to our clan of canines. So keeping her and her daddy apart has been the focus of life around here. She's almost done, which will have me breathing a HUGE sigh of relief but it has been a challenge.

And now that's she's on the tale of end of the desire to commence gestation, her mother is heading down that path. Which brings us to the time where we need to make a decision. Do we? Let them I mean. Or do we not? It would be okay. Girl Dog has rested one cycle. She's good for another two or three litters. But it would mean another in house delivery, and at least four weeks of pups living in said house. In my basement. Which I DO NOT WANT!!!! Sure they're cute as hell, but with history running eight pups a litter, sorry, that's just a few too many dogs.

Then there's the Princess. There is no doubt in my mind that once Girl Dog is done, whether bred or rested one more time, our little Nikki girl will decide that the other two did it, why shouldn't I? And then avoiding the love dance one more time will be all consuming yet again!

All this BEFORE!! the big event later this month!!

Is it any wonder that I'm not in the holiday frame of mind?

Ciao!

Bad Bad Blogger

Hey, it's me.... you know? The chick that writes this thing.... albeit rather inconsistently of late... yeah...me.... Hi! How are you?

I've been trying to find it in me to actually sit my ass down here and write something to post. And... as I guess you've probably figured out .... well, I haven't quite managed to find it... whatever "IT" is! that will get me to park the arse and write. I'm starting to think that I've hit the wall.

And, I'm feeling rather guilty about it.

But you know, when all the stories you have to write about are bitching and complaining about the same old stuff, over and over and over again.... well I figure that would turn away more readers than it would keep. It makes sense to me that if I don't have anything funny or touching or hell, even entertaining to write about, then why write. Why risk losing readers by writing about the same old crap?

If the truth be told, life hasn't had much fun in it lately.

I'm not going to go into details here, because quite frankly, why should I depress you as well with the doom and gloom and non-fun life I'm living? I won't do it. I will not subject you to the hell on earth that is currently my life. The scraping the bottom of the barrel that is a daily ritual.

Ha ha ha.... just kidding. Rather dramatic though, wouldn't you say? I'm testing out descriptive phrases... could you tell?

While some of the stuff that I could write about would be entertaining, I won't do it. Not because its not worthy of being posted here on the blog (because, you know, .... everything is worthy of being posted on the blog) but I do have some morals and scruples and, well, some other descriptive words that are currently escaping me at the moment.

I also have a family that would positively kill me if I was to write some of these stories. Well, maybe not kill me per se, but they would be pretty pissed if I did. I soooo want to tell you, but the repercussions would not be good...

Think about it. They could possibly hack into the blog (snicker snicker.... good luck with THAT!!! the password is so locked down and tight that no one, and I mean NO ONE! would ever figure it out!) and then who knows what they would do!! Or even worse yet...start their own blog and link it to here and well, then all hell would no doubt break loose!

But I do have some stuff that is in the preliminary stages of potentially being quite possibly suitable for posting. Like, oh let's just see... time travelling back to my youth now that #1 is older. Not that I don't time travel with #2, but #1 has stepped up into a life where there are girls and drinking and partying and stuff.... kinda tough to deal with but only because I tend to be somewhat controlling (who? me???) where my kids are concerned and really don't think that *insert name of female friend here* should really be trying to over-rule the mama bear ... just sayin'!!! But I'm sure she'll learn, she'll have no choice!

Wait??? Did I just write that? hmmph! go figure...

Actually, she's a nice girl. She just needs to be instructed on how to be a very nice girl. Okay, shut up now Jodie! I will tell you that the youth of today certainly are different than the youth I lived 30 some odd years ago... wow!

Nothing else. Just WOW!

And let's see.... what else do I have in the works? Tales from puberty with #2. Talk about night and day between him and #1. It boggles the mind how the two of them can be so different. Do they not share the same DNA and thus have the potential of being even remotely the same? Do the hormones not do the same in the same sex? I thought that once I made it through the first puberty (or at least on to what I'm hoping is the tail end!) the second I would have nailed. Yeah, about that.... wrong was I.

There's also some other stuff that I'm hoping I'll be able to share with you a little further down the road. Like the winning of the lottery. Oh I know, you're laughing. But you won't be laughing so much when you come asking me to pay off your mortgage now will you? Or buy you a new car? Or take you to Japan with me. Or France. Or on what I'm calling the "yes, I'm stalking you while you're on tour John" trip.

Hey?

You won't be laughing then will you?

Ciao!

What's up?

Did a little housekeeping on the blog this morning in case you didn't notice! It's time to start getting into the seasonal spirit!

Which has been difficult.

Normally by now, the house is done, the baking has been started, the shopping (or at least the lists!) have begun.

This year? Nada. Nothing. Zip.

But you know, it'll happen. It always does. No need to add to the already prominent stress level by letting the pressures of society and the media get to you. Never mind hearing that some family members have already finished their shopping. Or are getting close to finishing it.

Sheesh...

So, I won't get all tizzled up and worried. I won't get stressed. The baking will be done. The house will get decorated. The shopping will commence.

Right after I finish having my nervous breakdown....

Ciao!

A conversation

Me: Oh, by the way, you're going to your Aunt's on Friday night

#1: Huh? Why?

Me: It's her birthday and we're going for cake

#1: Oh.....(lengthy pause).... can *insert female friend's name here* come with us?

Me: I'll have to ask

#1: Wait...who's all going?

Me: All the family

#1: Really? ....... that could get a little awkward...

Ciao!

Stress Leave

That's what I'm classifying my absence as.

The only good thing I have to tell you is that I won tickets to see my boy John when he plays here next spring!!

Which is a good thing because one, I didn't want to spend the $99.75 for that second row center, on the floor! seat....but I would've! and two...well there really isn't a two.

I'll be back on the weekend....

Ciao!

Today's the day....

The Perseids start.

Go figure eh?

Things could get interesting....

Ciao!

Edit.... Okay, it's the Leodnids...not the Perseids... all I know is that there's a lot going on, both up in the sky and here on the ground!

Sneeze sneeze...sniffle sniffle...

Hey, I'm sick. No excuse for the lack of posting last week, but just putting out there for the upcoming week....

I'm somewhat certain its not H1N1 as I already had that...just a pesky little head cold that will no doubt turn into something absolutely horrible that will enable me to take a week off of work without using up vacation....not!!

I do, however, love that it is now professionaly and socially acceptable to "when you're sick, STAY HOME"... it eases my guilty conscious somewhat.

Not mention that I can log in from home and work from here.... if I can think past the congestion!

See you when I'm better!

Ciao!

Let's be tossing words this way instead!

Okay, turns there may or may not be some dissention among certain people in the life of this blog writer. And it has to do with the blog writing.

Which is kinda weird.

I mean, I've been very up front and honest with those that really count with regard to my writing and this blogging thing I do. Not that you all don't count, but... those that are close to me.... well, they know me.

They know of what I write about.

They also know that what is written bears a very strong resemblance to my real life. Some of it more fact than fiction. And some of it more fiction than fact. They know this. But it still is a mirror of what goes on with me. In my life. In my thoughts and feelings.

So you can imagine the look on my face and the disbelief that was going through my mind when a previous post of mine was thrown back at me. Really.... just go ahead and try and imagine! Here, I'll help you out... It's not like I am slightly off centre with all the menopause shit I've been going through for the last how ever many frickin' years!! let's add to it stressed beyond belief with the many other aspects of my life ... you wanna throw a previous blog in my face???? You wanna talk about how it made you feel????

Sorry to say, but this blog is about how I feel... not anyone else.

But, rather than get pissed off, which by the way, was my first reaction, well, actually... I did get pissed off.... but not as pissed off as I could've got! I decided to write about it. You know, easier to type it out and vent this way rather than risk bodily harm and home displacement! Oh, and such harm and displacement would not be me if you dared to wonder.... I kid, I kid!

It's important to remember that, in this land of blogging, you really do need to take it with a grain of salt. You really need to understand that just because I've threatened to do harm to someone, doesn't necessarily mean I'm actually going to do it.

Just because I said that I love someone and what they've done even more now, doesn't mean I really love them in that kind of way. (I'm guessing you figured out the fuel for the fire here eh?) It also doesn't mean that I wouldn't mind ... uhmmm... okay.... never mind that part!

Just because I talk about something that happened and gave my perspective on what went down doesn't really mean that was the way it actually happened.

All this was made very clear right from the beginning, when I embarked on this outlet for writing and venting. Remember... you know the way it really is. You know the way it really goes down. You know me.

Okay, back to normal. I feel better. And really, that's all that matters now isn't it.

And no one got hurt ~ bonus!!

Ciao!

Just to give you some perspective

We've all seen the words "objects in mirror may be closer than they appear" right? They're usually found on the mirror on the passenger side of a car.

And they're pretty accurate. I know I've been surprised a few times that the car in the next lane was actually right there and not further back.

#2 was begging, and when I say begging, I mean really begging!! He was going on and on and on non-stop about how he absolutely had to try the twins. He thought that they looked so cute and in his mind figured it to be a pretty good deal. Two smaller sized burgers for less than the price of the namesake that they came from.

You're probably asking yourself "what the hell does this have to do with the writing on the mirror?" Well....I've got a new one for you. Actually, I'm sure it's been used before... as a matter of fact, I know it has, but whatever. It suits.

Objects may appear larger on TV than they do in real life.


And like the blog title indicates, here's the reality



To give you an idea of how big they actually are.... But hey, they're tasty little morsels I'm told!

Ciao!

Grumpy McGrumpster

I probably shouldn't be writing a blog.

I'm in a real pissy mood. Downright bad and nasty if I do say so myself.

And for those that know me, this kind of mood doesn't happen often. Rarely actually. Incredibly rarely.

But when it does, it really does!!

I thought that if I sat at the computer, poured myself a glass of grape (nevermind the time...I'm in a bad mood!!!), and attempted to vent some of my mood out through my fingers, (rather than through physical violence) then, well, maybe I might be able to salvage what could be a pleasant evening ahead of me. #1 is working. #2 is going to a buddies and, well, yeah...home alone with no children.... just imagine the potential!!

A foul mood, however, does not make for a fun time. And try as I might to figure out what has got me ticked right off, I can't really put my finger on it. Could it possibly be that the amount of stuff that has pissed me off and triggered the bad mood is so much that I don't even know where to begin? Possibly I've harboured it all for so long that I don't have a clue what's got me bugged....

If I was to try and find a place to start, it would probably be the state of my bathroom. I mean seriously.... ??? Do they not know how to hang up a towel? Put TP back on the holder? Quit pissing on the seat (it lifts you know...and it also goes back down!!!) I know, I know, same old shit, just a different day. I've griped about this before, and while I know it could possibly be getting old for you readers, imagine how old it's getting for me??

I LIVE WITH IT!!

Or that not one of them knows how, or when, to do the dishes? Or where the freakin' dishes belong once the yelling that took place for them to do the damn dishes has subsided and everything is said and done and put away and then I attempt to find the frickin' things? Hello??? What part of "this is where the plastics go, this is where the glass dishes go" do you not get??

Maybe it might be the laundry that gets washed, dried, folded and stacked, waiting for them to put it away, that still sits at the top of the stairs, or at the end of the bed, that inevitably finds its way back into the laundry because they were too lazy to put it away and when they were advised that I wanted all the laundry brought up, they brought the clean stuff up too. I'm getting kind of sick of washing clean clothes by the way. I'm sure Hydro loves me, but yeah.....

Or is that they do not have a freakin' clue of how to put something back where it belongs? I pick up and put away and then they say "oh, look what I found...I thought I lost this" and then leave it laying about, waiting for me to put it away....again!

I'm in a really bad mood. But I might be feeling a little better now.

Leave your emails and comments to yourself if they're nothing but supportive. I know you all have teenagers that are just like mine. And if not yet, you will have. And I promise to be supportive and keep my mouth shut when you bitch!

Ciao!

And the Star fell....

I like to say that they're shooting, but this time, it was most definately falling.

Right there, in the southwestern sky.

I looked up and saw it. And I watched it.

Watched it fall....

You see, I hold these astronomical signs in high esteem. Very high esteem.

The moon. The planets. The stars. What happens with them always seems to have some kind of impact on my life.

Sometimes a very large impact.

Just like dreams. The ones I can remember anyway. They all mean something. They re-direct my life.

They all hold meaning.

After I saw the star fall.... I waited.

I knew that there would be someting that would happen.

Whether it be a dream I had coming into reality, or something that was actually conscious, finding a resolution.

The star fell tonight.

Bright as bright could be....

Ciao!

ps....this was posted from my couch....from my laptop....without an internet cable attached to it.... how cool is this???

Lessons Learned

So.... SG wanted the camera the other day.

I relented and let him use it.

By doing so I missed many a photo opportunity.

But it was okay. I got over it.

The camera was returned to my possession and I was happy.

Click click click went I.

Plenty of photos later, all with a blog theme in mind, I was content.

Except all the batteries were gone.

As was the USB cable.

So.... you get me griping and not the visual experience you knew had to be coming.

Guess what Santa's bringing SG???

Click click.

Ciao!

As previously stated....

I am soooo weak!!

I couldn't resist it. I really, really, REALLY!!! wanted to... but I'm sorry, you can't put this kind of temptation in front of me and not expect me to do it.... my self discipline (or lack thereof)... well, it all goes to shit.

This is not the raw cuts or the live recordings.

This is the real deal!!!!!

I tried... but I couldn't.

I did it.

I clicked.

And you should too! I think that I am more in love with this man and his music than I have been with anything else this boy has done....

Go ahead, do it.... click!

And listen.

Then... on November 17th, get your ass out to the store and buy it!

Ciao!

October 31, 2009

What more is there to say?

Seriously....are you okay?

I'm not really sure if I should be concerned or not.

I know we're all given moments when we're in a non imaginative state or are experiencing a complete and total lack of motivation to use our imagination, or maybe we're just plain bored and don't want to bother.

I can understand. Believe me! I CAN UNDERSTAND!! I've been there!!

It takes a lot of effort and creativity to come up with some sort of awesome idea to head out on, what I consider, one of the biggest and bestest nights of a kids life.

Halloween.

Trick or Treat!! Halloween Apples! Getting dressed all up in some sort of costume and heading out to holler at houses in an attmept to fill your pillow case with candy? What more could a kid want?

When #1 was 14, he was a big kid. A bigger than your average sized kind of kid. As Halloween approached, we were tossing around ideas for his costume. He didn't really have a clue what he wanted to go as. Then, about three days before the big night, he came home and said he was going to go trick or treating dressed as a girl.

Oh....okay...

It frightened me how beautiful a "girl" he was. He was gorgeous. Blue eyes. Long blond hair. Makeup by Mom.... he was absolutely stunning. The hair was long enough that I could curl it and make it all Farrah Fawcett like... he was gorgeous! Or maybe I should say "she"? He looked that good! The small amount of effort required was soooo worth it!

Fast forward three years!

#2 is now 14. Well, almost.... he will be in 6 weeks or so... and is heading out tomorrow night to holler at some doors and try and grab some free grub. Then he's off to a party. And once again, the discussions were endless, what to dressup as? How about this? How about that? Nothing seemed quite right. And then, a couple of days ago, the decision was made.

He decided that he really wanted to dress up as...

You got it....

A girl!!!!

Oh my...

Ciao!!

Isn't it Ironic

I've been travelling to Cleveland for, oh, about 10 years now. Not every year. Usually every second year or so. This year, I've been twice. To do computer type stuff. Learning software. Learning more about the software I already know about.

I know a lot of software! But its not the kind of software that I can use in my world outside of the thing that pays the bills. However, it sure makes the thing that pays the bills easier to do now that I have all this knowledge about the software!

And when I go to Cleveland, its always very intense, with lots of learning crammed into a short space of time. This time, well, it was really intense. They crammed into two days what easily could've been put into four, and then still be very intense!

They always treat people very well when we're down there. They wine you, they dine you. I've been to some pretty fine dining establishments down there. And some not so fine! You know, mix it up a bit.

This trip however, brought an opportunity to do a couple of things that I've not done while down in Cleveland. One of them being something that has been on the "to-do" list for a long time.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. Yes!



From the minute I stepped off the corporate bus and on to the steps that would lead me into this absolute cornucopia of history I had shivers. I really didn't know what to expect when I walked into the building, but I did know that it was going to be an experience I would probably never forget.

I wasn't wrong.

As we made our way into the building, I was tuning out our host and what he was saying. This was an easy task by the way. This guy could go on and on and on for hours (I know, I've been subjected to his ramblings before!!) and if I was to fully appreciate what I was about to see, I didn't need to be listening to him!

They don't allow cameras in the main exhibition halls was about the only thing I heard that could be considered useful.

When I entered the main hall, I wasn't really prepared for what I was about to see. There is so much history there of the artists and the music and the technology. It was overwhelming. And somewhat emotional. I continually experienced shivers every time I turned a corner and came across something else that made me go "wow".

I wasn't sure why... but I was immediately drawn to the above display. It made sense to me when I read the display card.

One of the things that made me tear up, definately the most, was the stuff about Michael. Seeing his shoes and clothes and his stuff made it hit home that he was gone. And despite all the crazy stuff that was out there about him, we lost a musical genius.

And this was another thing that got me. I tell ya, seeing this stuff and reading everything... quite emotional.

I'm so glad I had the chance to experience it at this place and time in my life. It really seem fitting that it was this trip that it happened. And the next time, I'll spend the six to seven hours they recommend. There is that much there.

Oh, and I'll bring some tissues!

Ciao!

Would you like a "takeaway" box??

So I'm back home... Oh, yeah, I was gone. For a week. Five nights away from my bed and my pillows and my bathrobe. Away on a highly intense business trip that taxed just about every remaining brain cell that holds space in my head.

It felt good. The brain cell thing. I haven't had to think like that in a very, very long time. That's the thing about having a job that you could basically do in your sleep. Your brain gets lazy. It forgets how to string together the stuff that makes other stuff make sense. So yeah, it was good practice... I needed it.

But, just because I was busy during the day utilizing my brain until the point where it hurt and was threatening to shut right down and not do anything more thinking (it came close I tell ya and thank goodness it didn't because who knows what might have happened then!!) doesn't mean I didn't get to enjoy the evenings. Which I did. Along with 14 other people.

Shopping not being a huge attraction for me, I almost opted out of the planned event. We were going to an outlet mall and a quick search on the web indicated that, well, no, not so much. For me, visiting the stores that were being offered wasn't really something I wanted to do. And then, someone else said they were going to a different mall and asked if I wanted to join them. Another web search and it was a definate maybe...

And, being the touristy kind of girl I am, and one who isn't afraid to do what she wants, when she wants, no matter how good or bad it is, I took my camera. Not really, we all know I take my camera everywhere!

Who knew when I'd ever get to go to this store again. And judging from what's inside of it, uhm, yeah, it won't be too soon! Talk about out of my league! But, my fellow Canadian friend and I, we entered. We were slightly intimidated, but that only lasted for about thirty seconds. I mean really! its not like they were going to try anything on! They probably wouldn't let us! But we might touch something....

Like this.

I really liked the green one, but the shade was just a little off to properly blend with my skin tones.... Not to mention that I could buy a really good used car for what the price tag had on it. I was kind of surprised that these weren't behind glass. Locked glass. With sensors that would sound an alarm if touched.


Now these were a little more in line with what I like. Tasteful. Classy. I'm assuming the desk is where you sit down to negotiate just what kind of interest rate you'll have to pay in order to get the money to buy the trousers! Or sign the documents handing over your first born!

After spending time in fantasyland, we headed out for dinner. And that's one of the things that, when travelling for business and trying to toss in a little bit of pleasure, really wreaks havoc with, well, life and its digestive system. Late dinners, food that you wouldn't normally eat, drinking that you wouldn't normally do... well, okay, maybe not the drinking part, but you get what I mean. Having dinner at 8 or 8:30 at night just doesn't sit well with this old body. So when we decided to have something to eat we thought, nice and light and maybe a glass of white grape rather than the red.




OH.MY.GOSH!!!!.... Not the place to go when you're looking for a small meal a little later in the evening!

This greeted us as we walked in the door. Now, I am not a huge dessert person. But I certainly wanted to be one after looking at this display of total decadence. As we were being led to our table, I took a look around to see what other people were eating. I was absolutely dumbfounded by what I was witnessing... Huge plates. Huge portions. So big were the portions, it was kind of sick actually.

Making the healthy and appropriate decision for the sake of my digestive system, I thought "salad it will be!"

Yeah, about that!

My Chicken Caeser Salad was delivered on a plate that was about 17" inches wide. And the picture doesn't really do it justice due to the angle that it was taken at.... the lettuce was stacked about 6 inches up. We were figuring the kitchen used probably 2 1/2 heads of romaine...

When it was all said and done, this was what was left. I tried. I really did. But there was no way that another morsel would make it into this body. One of our fellow diners had this:

She couldn't finish hers either. Such waste... Anyway, as we were where we were and with what we were greeted with when we first walked in the door, it was decided that one piece of cheesecake between the five of us would probably be the smart thing to do.

That there is a Pumpkin Pecan Cheesecake with fresh Whipped Cream. And with five of us digging in for two or three forkfuls, we still managed to leave some on the plate. All I can say is that the next time I go there (there's a better chance of me hitting this place than the other place!) I'm going to be very hungry and am going to be there very early.

Up next: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

I shed tears, I really did.

Ciao!

Red lights & crosswalks

A little update on #1 and the driver's license.

He still hasn't got it. You know, the one where he doesn't need to be chauferred here, there and everywhere. Hasn't even made an attempt since the last time he made an attempt and well, didn't succeed.

And as such, every week I get to drive him into the city on the weekend (which, by the way, I'm not fond of. Who am I kidding, I don't like it...I'm in the city five days a week, why would I want to go to the city on the weekend?) so he can play water polo. Yes, he's on the water polo team at school. Which is a fabulous thing. But it means every Sunday in the city. At the pool.

Because he doesn't have his driver's license. I mean, I'd probably go anyway to watch, but that's not the point. The point is, I have no choice, I have to go!

So anyway, I let him drive the last time. Which for me, is a big thing. We're talking the highway here. At speeds of 100 km/hour. For a fairly long distance. And then, the city! I've never been in the car with him while he drove in the city. SG has... or so I thought.

The highway was fairly uneventful. He did good. I mean, he's been driving for well over a year and is a pretty good driver. And as we approached the city, I was calm. Relaxed. Hell, I was even texting while he navigated his way to the city centre. Not that there was much to navigate. Straight ahead, no turns, just drive.

Then we started getting into the thick of things. Traffic got a little heavier. There were more signal lights to take notice of. Not to mention the pedestrian crosswalks and red light cameras. And as we approached the famous intersection of Portage and Main, he was getting a little edgy.

"You're making me go through downtown? Do I have to take this way? Isn't there a side street or something I can go down instead?"

"No. This is the best way to go. Just be careful, pay attention, you'll do fine. It's not like it's your first time driving, you're doing good."

"Mom... it is my first time. I've never driven in the city before.... I can't believe you're making me drive downtown."

"What??? You've driven in the city before...with your dad...haven't you?"

"Nope. And here I am, right smack in the middle of it, with all this traffic and people and stuff."

Apparently I needed to put the text messaging on hold and pay a little more attention... my kid had never driven in the city before!!

"You're doing great." I said and really tried to mean it. I looked over at him and he had a little worry action going on in his face. "This really is nothing. This is just church traffic. Can you imagine driving through here in the thick of the morning rush? I do it everyday. You're doing great. Really, you are. You're just fine...whoops...that was a crosswalk, you need to watch for those so you can stop to let the people...hey, don't follow so close to that car, you need to leave stopping..."

"MOM! Can you quit talking? I'm trying to pay attention to the driving here...."

"Okay, I'll be quiet. But make sure you watch all around, just not straight ahead. There's lots going on with the side streets, and the crosswalks, and the traffic lights... not to mention the red light cameras that the city has..."

"MOM!!!!!"

Okay, I get it. I shut up. And let him drive.

We made it to the pool in one piece, without any incidents. Well, other than my stress level having been raised up through the roof. And #1 was pleased. He was very proud with what he had just accomplished. And I was very proud with what I accomplished. I didn't freak out... well, at least he didn't see me having a small freakout in my head. Which is good. For him. Not me.

When the game was over, I asked him if he wanted to drive home. I mean, he'd just come through the city for the first time and I couldn't very well not let him drive through it again. This was going to happen every week and I best just be getting used to it I thought.

"No, you can. I'm heading for lunch with the rest of the team and I'll catch a ride home with Bill."

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

Ciao!

Just messin' with ya!

Here we go... let the fun stuff start!

I sooooo want to tell you what's rattling around in my head. I do.

I really, really DO!!!!

But I can't.

Not here.

Not in an email.

Not even on the phone....

Hell, I'm not even going to write you a letter! Nor talk about it over coffee. Or beers.

I may relent slightly if offered grape... wait! no, not even grape!!!

I will, however, say this....

I'm getting closer to tasting it!!

Ciao!

Well, this is different

No no no, not a Saturday morning blog. You've come to expect that. Or maybe not. Blogging has been down on the priority list as you've probably noticed. I have anyway. Readership has dropped off. Which is to be expected when the writer can't find the time or harness the creative juices that spill out through her fingers and into the keyboard. And when there's nothing new here, well, people just move along. You need to know that those creative juices just keep rolling around in my head. Not going anywhere. Bouncing back and forth, up and down. It's actually making me crazy. Or crazier maybe? And given everything that's been happening, I probably should've been writing. You know, to try and keep me somewhat sane.


But if I was able to tell you everything that has been happening in the last month or so, (which I'm not going to by the way, I'll just drop subtle little hints here and there to make you wonder, keep you curious and coming back for more thinking that there might be something here), you'd probably fall off your chair. Well, maybe not really, but you'd be surprised. And impressed. Well, maybe not that either.


But I am. And really, that's all that matters.


On to what I can talk about.


#1 turned 17 a couple of days ago. But you knew that already. It's kind of weird for me. I mean, I knew when I had the child that he'd grow up. At least that's what I prayed for. And he has. And is. Growing up. He's turning into quite the man too. It seems that sometime in the last 6 months or so, a switch has been turned over. Not a light switch type of switch. That would be instantaneous. and God knows this hasn't been quick by any stretch of the imagination. But one of those big 'it takes two or three people to push the heavy metal bar over so the lights go on' kind of switch. And then it takes a little time for the light to get brighter and brighter. And I'm seeing the light! By the way, he has an awards night coming up where he shall be noted as an outstanding student for last year's school year. Which had me shaking my head somewhat going "huh?" I then puffed up and strutted about like a proud peacock!

Meal of choice was homemade pizza (it's awesome as you can see) and Ice Cream cake.

I was handed a promotion a couple of weeks back. I am now what they have determined to be a 'customer service/quality manager'. Came with a raise. And a laptop. And an expense account (of sorts). Remote access to the office network and a staff of four reporting to me. Big responsibility I know. But not as big as its gonna get. One of the other perks, and probably the bestest perk of all, was the high speed internet installation that took place here. Yes, I now have a thing on the roof of my house, not very pretty either, that brings in the internet at speeds that have never been seen here. SG, who absolutely had no use whatsoever for the internet, has found that it really isn't all that bad after all. At least that's what I'm assuming as he's turned his attention from the hunting and fishing channels on the TV to the hunting and fishing stuff on the internet. Think kid in a candy store... yeah, good thing I have the laptop! I just need to figure out how to get the wireless router working and we're golden! #2 is particularly thrilled as now he can play his Halo ODST live, with other players who aren't in my house, on the big screen... I tell you, there is no end to the joy in this place...

And it snowed last night. And snowed. And snowed. A little too early and I know it'll melt (it better friggin' melt!!) but really? October 10th I wake up to white? Considering a mere three weeks or so ago it was 32C out. This is just whacked.

I'll leave it here. A little short I know, but I've got me some internet surfing to do. There's a whole world out there that needs me to take a look at it. Finally a true appreciation for the blogs that I regularly read. The waiting for the photos or videos to load, well, there really isn't one anymore. And the downloading. There is a plenty of downloading to be done!! oh, and by the way... family members ~ go ahead and send the pictures and those big ass video clips that used to piss me right off as I waited, sometimes hours, for them to come in... I won't get mad!

And give me a call. The phone will ring.

Ciao!!

Say what???

Seventeen years ago, at the exact time of this post (thank you for the scheduling ability Blogger!) #1 entered this world and blessed me with, well, just blessed me.

All 8 lbs, 11 ozs and 22 inches of him.

It was an adventurous labour to say the least. Not to mention a veeerry long one. I'll spare you all the gory details.... But one that I would never, ever, EVER!! trade or change for anything!

And to quote a friend in a recent email...

"F*#$in' hell, you have a kid who's graduating high school? How did that happen?"

I'm asking myself the same thing.

And now, my little baby is 6' 7" and topping the scales at, well, he's big. My personal bodyguard.

Happy Birthday to you my first born! May life give you all that is good. Great things await you and I hope you embrace them with everything you have! You are one of my reasons for being.

I Love You more than you could ever possibly know.

Love Mom xoxoxo

Okay, mushy I know....deal with it!

Ciao!

Picture Story

Mission?

Accomplished!

Ciao!

A Conversation

At 5:32 am this morning.

#1: Mom...mom....wake up

Me: Huh...what?

#1: We have to leave soon

Me: Oh

Fast forward 7 minutes.....

Me: Oh, and just so you know, the guys usually find their own way to the hunting spot. Mommy doesn't usually deliver. Just so you know.

Ciao!

Who Says

Soooo, my boy John is getting ready to release his newest CD. I'm very excited. But you knew I would be.... He's been hard at it for about a year now. It's called Battle Studies. Well... today it's called that. Tomorrow? You never know with this guy.

Anyway, he leaked what will be the first single on Thursday. On Twitter of all places!! That boy, he is indeed a marketing genius! With well over two million followers... yeah, he knows what he's doing.

And, as is his style, he's been playing secret shows at the Hotel Cafe down in LA. Sort of getting a feel for performing in front of people again. As well, he does like to play "raw" versions of what he's working on and has written. With his taping policy being very liberal, there has been plenty out there for the listening pleasure.

But I made a decision this time. I wasn't going to listen to any of it. I wasn't going to download anything. I would wait, like the all other non-obsessed fans, for the actual CD to come out, listen to it in the car (by the way.... Maggie likes John too), by myself and formulate my opinions. I was going to be surprised. Entertained. I was going to stand strong!!

I am soooo weak!!

First chance I got, away I went... "right click to save to your computer" was I. With everything. I even emailed a person who is a more dedicated fan than I. She actually does the majority of taping that is done in and around LA. She has a library of John stuff going back for what seems like forever. I thought that as long as I just "saved" them, I didn't have to listen. I had them. That was all that mattered. I could listen if I wanted to, but I'm wasn't going to this time.

Again.... I am soooo weak!!!

I have this rather verbose dialogue going on in my head that has all these opinions and thoughts. I won't share with you now, I'll wait until later. But it should be stated that if he was serious and wanted to shed his "Wonderland" reputation, I think he may just have accomplished it this time around. Those that want him to head back to his RFS roots, well, you best be moving along now. Battle Studies, from what I've heard raw, will be nothing like RFS.

The first single is called "Who Says". Here's the lyrics.

Who says I can't get stoned
Turn off the lights and the telephone
Me and my house alone
Who says I can't get stoned

Who says I can't be free
From all of the things that I used to be
Re-write my history
Who says I can't be free

Its been a long night in New York City
Its been a long night in Baton Rouge
I don't remember you looking any better
But then again I don't remember you

Who says I can't get stoned
Call up the girl that I used to know
Fake love for an hour or so
Who says I can't get stoned

Who says I can't take time
Meet all the girls in the county line
Wait on fate to send a sign
Who says I can't take time

Its been a long night in New York City
Its been a long night in Austin too
I don't remember looking any better
But then again I don't remember you

Who says I can't get stoned
Plan a trip to Japan alone
Doesn't matter if I even go
Who says I can't get stoned

Its been a long night in New York City
Its been a long time since twenty-two
I don't remember you looking any better
But then again I don't remember, don't remember you

It's really quite a catchy little tune. Here's a link if you want to download it and listen to it for yourself.

As well, here's what the boy had to say about it.

Per Rolling Stone, John says,
"When I sing it, I do not think about marijuana - I think about walking around your house naked with a guitar," Mayer says. "It's about being in control of the pleasure in your life."

I concur.

I like it.

And, I am, apparently, really weak.

Ciao!!

If this is Tuesday???

Have you ever had one of those days where you wake up before the alarm clock lets loose its assault on your ears and the oh so wonderful slumber you were thoroughly and completely enjoying and find yourself looking at it and saying "What day is it?"

Yeah, I've been doing that the last few days.

I'm not sure why, because to tell you the truth, I'm always cognizant of what day it is when I wake up. You know, the old "that was a lousy sleep... oh yeah..shit...it's Monday" or "Thursday, we are sooo on our way to the weekend!!". My fave is the "YESSS!!....it is indeed Saturday".

And after coming out of the twilight zone that you've just spent the last 6.5 hours (if you're lucky!) in, and you realize what day it actually is, you ask yourself "Is today the day?".

Will this be the day I've been waiting for? Is it decision time? Will it happen? Will I find out?

Man.... I am not liking this much at all.

I won't elaborate on my complete and total distaste with the state of my sleep this last little while. I will say that when I wake up tomorrow, I want to say to myself "Yes, it's Thursday, we are sooo on our way to the weekend!!".

Ciao!!

Monday

I'm up too early but can't sleep. I'm in for a helluva week, I can just feel it. It's going to be busy busy busy and filled with all kinds of new and interesting things.

Great. Just great. I mean, ugh.

And I'm feeling like a horrible mom as I didn't bake a damn thing this weekend. Which means, the kids have craptastic options for lunch! Maybe tonight I'll get something in the oven.

Who am I kidding? I'll crash by seven as I've been up since 2:42....

Wish me luck, I think I'm gonna need it to get through it!

Ciao!!

Note To Self

You!!....yeah you!

The one who feels like they're going to internally combust if the freakin' "flash" you're currently managing to survive doesn't end, sooner rather than later, because, seriously...., you will blow right the hell up and set everything within a three mile radius on fire!!!!

Yes, you're the one...

Do not decide, while driving, down the highway at speeds of 118 km...I mean 102, with all four windows down and the moon roof open, because it really is cooling the inferno down, to reach over and close the moon roof....

DON'T!!!

Because it's very difficult to shoulder check when your head is being held hostage by your hair.

Stuck.

In the moon roof.

You just closed.

Signora Calda!!

Boy, those look good!!

And please, don't ask me what happened...I have no freakin' clue!

But, what I do know is that, despite the appearance, the flavour flave was still there so I kept them. It's highly unlikely the boys will take them to school, dare someone comment and ask them "what the hell is that?"... so... it just means more for me!!

Needless to say, I was a tad shocked. So shocked that I had to take the shot at a different angle.

The frickin' things rose and then fell. I know this by the way they're sagging over the edge and splayed across the baking pan. And I'm blaming the dogs. Whilst these were in the oven, we had some company. They barked (the dogs, not the company!). And barked, and barked. And then, barked some more. It appears that four Shepherds barking have more of an impact than two teenage boys chasing each other around the house where the rise and fall of muffins is concerned.


But give me a quiet house with no such noise, it works! Which is good, because, well, the boys need muffins!

Oh, and because pictorial evidence would indicate such, and I know y'all were thinking that I'd been tipping the grape, I wasn't.

But I will say this. It's expensive, but worth every penny when you need to sit back, celebrate, sip and enjoy. A blend of three grapes, the melding of them all together works. And works well!

I'd be willing to part with the muffins recipes if you're so inclined. Just let me know! But I'm not springing for the grape!

Ciao!!

Stuck

I know it sounds like I'm a serious excuse monkey, and maybe I am. But I don't think so. I'm just stuck.

Don't get me wrong, there is plenty going on that would be make for outstanding blog fodder. The lint house is a hoppin' place right now. The pockets are filling up and, well, I'm out of catchy little phrases to continue on describing life and how it is, based around the blog name, so I'll stop.. Or I'm just tired and can't think creatively right now.

I'd love to write about the feelings of glee and sadness I felt, both at the same time, when it was discovered that the full-time thing I do is changing. Or the extreme disappointment I have in myself for not setting a good example and having someone follow my lead down a path they should've never taken. Or about the irons in the fires I have going on and the frustration I'm feeling with the way the wheel turns so horribly slow and my wondering if I can put up with slow moving wheels should things go the way I'm wishing and hoping they will. Or how it seems that others are moving on and up and forward and I feel like I'm just standing in the same spot, not going anywhere. But I can't. Not yet.

And that is frustrating!

But what I can do is get back to the basics and the humour and the pictures and the conversations and the randomness that I am oh so very capable of. For example. Friday morning, text message comes in from SG and it went like this:

SG: You should get chicken
Me: I was going to
SG: what kind
Me: tits and legs
Me: and wings
Me: Survivor starts on Thursday
SG: ???

Kinda weird? In my head it wasn't. It was the next thought in the progression whereby wings are purchased and prepared for specific occasions. And we do this thing in our house where every Thursday we gather together and sit and watch Survivor. I know, need to get a life but we've been doing it ever since the stupid show started. It's kind of like a family game night, except without the game. We do survivor instead. And I usually make homemade pizza. But that got a little taxing, not only with the time (more times than not the show would be almost over and we'd be just settling in to eat) but homemade pizza gets a little expensive, what with the price of cheese these days.... So we changed it up and now we alternate between pizza and Wings and Salad. Caeser Salad. Probably THE. BEST. EVER Caesar Salad you could ever dream of eating.

Anyway, I suppose I should be less worried about what I shouldn't write about right now and concentrate on getting back to the basics. Regular postings, random items that make you shake your head, funny stuff that makes you laugh, and, when I'm thinking you're getting a little sick of reading about stuff, a little look at life in pictures.

This is what I'm thinking. I'm not promising, but I'm thinking. So I'll leave you with a pic or two right now to tide you over. And know that I'm planning on getting back to basics while the complicated shit continues to rent space in my head.



It's been a pretty wet "summer??" this year and we've had more than our fair share of mushrooms growing in the yard. Apparently you're suppose to pick them in order to keep the spores from spreading, but I've just been mowing them over with the lawn tractor.

Sunrise as I was leaving one morning last week. I thought it looked like a big fire ball in sky, which, technically it is, but I also thought is was one of the most beautiful things I've seen in a long time.

Okay, I'm out. Have baking to do, floors to wash, toilets to clean (yuck, yuck, YUCK!!!!) and then, what will no doubt end up being yet another disappointment, a football game to watch. If it's that bad, I may just end up floating in the pool. Speaking of which, we've never been in the pool in September...this is weird....

Ciao!

You heard it here first....

The Art of Teenage Interrogation.
by...Me!

THAT!!! my friends, is the name of the book.

I've changed my plan and have put the first book on hold. Because it looks likes I will have to continue to write this "how to get right into the inner core of your kids mind and totally blow him away because you actually do know it all (or at least more than he does) as you lived it yourself and he's just too naive to figure it all out and understand this" book.

Yeah, it's been a fun ride around here this past summer. And...as they say, "that which doesn't kill us only makes us stronger".... Bring on the heavy weights!

I'm thinking a best seller here folks!

Ciao!!!

Can you say "fruity"?

What a day, what a day...

The weather was absolutely gorgeous.

Which of course prompted me to grab the camera and take some pictures.

Cherries. I know, I know...I showed them before but I'm still amazed that they actually grew and tasted allright. Well, they tasted like sour, but not like crap, so essentially, they tasted okay. The last of the batch is coming off tomorrow...

My girlfriend and I were out taking a walk in the back bush...her's, not mine...and we stumbled across a hidden treasure. I noticed the red patch, she didn't know it was there and we picked every single one of them off, split them in half and made some lovely apple crumble!

Front yard apples are few and far between this year but what is there is very, very tasty! They're just coming ready now and I will say, there's nothing like a "new crop" of apples to regenerate your appreciation!

Progress is amazing! These are the grapes that for the last two years have been trampled by too many puppies. This year, as you've seen if you've been reading, we got grapes! They blossomed, they grew, they grew bigger and now they're turning colour. While I thought we had red and green, turns out we have two red! (go figure eh??!?!!). Might be able to pull enough off to make some grape jelly, but watch out next year!! Me thinks I'll be making wine!!

Ciao!!